Despite not yet securing an Oscar for Best Picture, Netflix’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, remains optimistic about the streaming giant’s future prospects in the prestigious awards arena. Sarandos believes that with Netflix’s continual growth and dedication to quality content, the coveted award will eventually come their way.
With a staggering number of over 300 million subscribers globally, Netflix has established itself as the leading entity in the streaming industry. Yet, the company continues to strive for the pinnacle of cinematic recognition: the Oscar for Best Picture. Although Netflix has not clinched this prestigious award yet, it has come tantalizingly close on multiple occasions. In fact, at the most recent Academy Awards, Netflix received more nominations than any other studio, highlighting its significant presence in Hollywood.
During an insightful conversation with Variety, CEO Ted Sarandos was questioned about his feelings regarding Netflix’s lack of an Oscar win for Best Picture. He expressed a nuanced perspective, stating, “It’s hard for me to say, ‘Do they have it out for Netflix?’ when we’ve been the most-nominated studio for the past three years,” Sarandos noted. He elaborated further, discussing the selective nature of the Academy’s voting process, emphasizing that to win, Netflix must create films that resonate deeply with audiences: “We have to make a movie that people love.”
One of Netflix’s standout films, Emilia Pérez, garnered an impressive 13 nominations, including a nod for Best Picture. However, some speculate that controversy surrounding actress Karla Sofía Gascón on social media could have adversely affected the film’s campaign. Sarandos, nonetheless, prefers to focus on the positive rather than dwell on hypotheticals. “I hate that question, because it creates all of these what-if’s,” he remarked. He acknowledged that while Emilia Pérez was a frontrunner, the competition was fierce and winning was never guaranteed. Sarandos expressed disappointment over the speculation but reaffirmed his commitment to future collaborations, stating, “You have to have some grace when people make mistakes, and we have grace.”
Throughout its journey, Netflix has received numerous nominations for Best Picture, with films like Roma, The Irishman, Marriage Story, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Don’t Look Up, The Power of the Dog, All Quiet on the Western Front, Maestro, and Emilia Pérez all achieving recognition for this prestigious award. Notably, Roma and All Quiet on the Western Front successfully won Best Foreign Language Film, showcasing Netflix’s versatility and commitment to diverse storytelling.
Reflect on Netflix’s Oscar Journey: Should Any Nominated Films Have Secured the Win for Best Picture?
